They arrived in the Youth Center. It looked exactly as it had those many years ago to Kim. She walked to a certain spot by the bar.
"This is where we were first teleported and chosen." She whispered to Andros who merely smiled at her fond memories. He also had to admit that being a ranger here had created a wonderful life to hold on to. Though this place had been very different on his team's shift as savior of the planet.
"Kimberly!" A portly man wearing a bright shirt exclaimed from behind the counter. His hair was a silvery brown but his smile was as warm as ever.
"Ernie!" Kim bounced happily, running to greet him in a tight hug. "It's so good to see you again."
"You too Kimmy. I was finally able to buy this place back and it's wonderful that the old gang can be here for the re-opening."
"Oh yeah!" She flushed with slight embarrassment at forgetting. Pulling Andros from behind her she introduced the two.
"Ernie this is Andros, he moved here after Adelle took over. And Andros, this is Ernie, the first and best owner of the one and only Juice bar and Youth Center!"
The two men laughed at her enthusiasm and shook hands, sharing pleasantries such as 'Nice to meet you.'
Before more could be said there was a loud shout from the front door.
"Ernie, my favorite smoothie maker!" A familiar voice called.
"And you're always my best customer Rocky." The owner chuckled.
"Long time, no see!" Tanya greeted and the rest of the older rangers plus Sere and Angela. Tommy, Aisha, Billy, Katherine, Rocky, Tanya, Adam, Trini, Zach, and Jason were all there.
"Hey Ernie, if we're going to walk down memory lane there's something you're going to need to be let in on." Adam said seriously, followed by nods of agreement and small giggles from everyone else.
Tommy leaned on the counter and motioned for the elder man to come closer. Cupping a hand by his ear Tommy began to whisper,
"You know how we were always leaving suddenly?"
Ernie nodded curiously.
"Well... we were all Power Rangers. Oh, minus Angie and Sere." Tommy pulled back as he and everyone else grinned guiltily.
"How- I mean... whoa." Ernie shook his head then smiled. "How could I not have seen it? The colors, the closeness, the disappearing? You guys are nuts." He laughed and shook his head at how much they many times they must have risked their lives.
"Yeah but we saved everyone's butts a bunch of times." Kat replied casually in her classic accent. It was actually nice to know that time hadn't changed her that much. They all laughed and began to talk about their adventures, letting Ernie in on what REALLY happened. Andros loved every minute of getting closer into their closely knit family of friends. He couldn't believe how he had gone from the Earth shy, serious alien to such a home planet, easy going guy. It had taken him a while to fully trust his ranger team but since then he'd changed, and he trusted everyone here almost immediately.
Martial arts mats were set out like they used to be and everyone, including Ernie, were sitting in a large circle just talking and laughing.. and drinking good, old-fashion smoothies of course. Funny how they all seemed to be coupled off.
Tommy and Aisha, naturally, sat close with her leaning against his arm. An adorable pair of newly weds.
Billy sat next to Kat, holding each others' hand. She occasionally rested her head on his arm, which he didn't mind in the least.
Zach had his arm around Angela's waist through-out the conversations. They'd been married two years ago on a lovely Autumn day.
Sere was sitting in front of Adam with her head in his lap. He unconciously played with her long black hair that spread across his legs.
Rocky and Tanya were as outgoing as ever in the 'walk down memory lane' even as Rocky drapped his arm around her shoulders near the beginning and there it remained for most of the time.
Trini sat comfortably in Jason's lap, leaning against one of his shoulders so that his face could be seen as well. He held her securely around the waist. They had been engaged for a few months now.
And then there was Kimberly and Andros. Not officially a couple, in fact they were almost new acquaintances, but there seemed to be an intangible connection between the two. It was like they were so close, it was hard NOT to see them as a couple once they'd actually met. She sat there, her smile sparkling as she held his hand and he looked happier than, those who had seen him, had seen him in a while.
They all talked merrily into the evening. Thankfully Ernie had opened the place to them a day early since they were always special in his heart, he even took to Angela, Sere, and Andros as part of the close group right away. The evening started to die down as it got later. Time had flown by for everyone.
Finally Rocky let out a large yawn sparking more banter that had been happening that night.
"Looks like it's someone's bed time." Billy mocked, receiving a tongue stuck out at him in return.
"I think those two beat you to it." Zach gestured to where Kim and Sere were sleeping soundly next to each other on the mats. Everyone's voices automatically dropped to whispers.
"We should get going anyway." Jason added softly as he helped his wife up. "We're flying out to meet a client in Miami tomorrow."
"It's ok, Tommy seems pretty beat anyway and we can't have that on our honey-moon in Antigua." Aisha winked playfully causing Tommy to blush.
"I guess I should get Sere home and to bed too. My girl needs her rest for work and so do I." Adam smiled at the petite form of his girlfriend.
"I'll take Kimberly home." Andros stated more than offered. He was sure she wouldn't object anyway. A few knowing looks went around the group that did not go unnoticed by the former red space ranger.
"Aw, that's sweet." Angela said in a genuine tone.
"I knew you would. You're such a gentleman, don't think I didn't see you two at the reception." Kat teased playfully.
"I've got a late night radio show to do in two hours anyway." Tanya added as they all began to gather their things.
"But count on us stopping by, Ernie...A LOT!" Trini giggled. Rocky smiled and nudged her.
"Yeah because we don't care if it's a _Youth_ Center."
"Thanks for letting us in bro, since we couldn't make it for your official grand opening tomorrow." Tommy shook hands with the elderly owner.
"Anytime guys, you know this place is always open to you." He smiled back and waved as they all left. Adam and Andros carefully carrying the two beautiful, sleeping women.
As soon as they were all gone Ernie prepared to lock up for the night. He was just about to leave when he looked back at it, smiled, and shook his head at the memories.
"The Power Rangers."
He flicked the light switch and everything was sucked into darkness.
~*~ A little later ~*~
Andros set her tiny form on a massive bed as gently as possible. He smirked as she curled confortably into the fluffy pillows. Though he wanted to fall asleep next to her right now, to be sure of her safety and to feel safe himself... he knew it wouldn't be right. He wasn't going to do anything of course, but they were new to each other even if they were strangely close.
He pulled the blanket over Kim and tucked her in. Giving her a kiss on the forehead, Andros walked out of the room turning the light off with his mind leaving behind only a note on her nightstand.
He gathered his few things and got in his car. Andros had decided to stay the night at his place out of courtesy, after all he hadn't been invited to stay another night even though part of him knew it would be ok.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And that my friends, is the end of that chapter. Like it? I hope so. Three C's welcome and appreciated. I'll be waiting to hear from you guys.
By the way, I think I need a Beta reader... anyone interested? I go a bit slow as you can tell so you definatly won't be bombarded with a lot of work at once lol. Email me if you're interested. *hugs ya all* :)
"This is where we were first teleported and chosen." She whispered to Andros who merely smiled at her fond memories. He also had to admit that being a ranger here had created a wonderful life to hold on to. Though this place had been very different on his team's shift as savior of the planet.
"Kimberly!" A portly man wearing a bright shirt exclaimed from behind the counter. His hair was a silvery brown but his smile was as warm as ever.
"Ernie!" Kim bounced happily, running to greet him in a tight hug. "It's so good to see you again."
"You too Kimmy. I was finally able to buy this place back and it's wonderful that the old gang can be here for the re-opening."
"Oh yeah!" She flushed with slight embarrassment at forgetting. Pulling Andros from behind her she introduced the two.
"Ernie this is Andros, he moved here after Adelle took over. And Andros, this is Ernie, the first and best owner of the one and only Juice bar and Youth Center!"
The two men laughed at her enthusiasm and shook hands, sharing pleasantries such as 'Nice to meet you.'
Before more could be said there was a loud shout from the front door.
"Ernie, my favorite smoothie maker!" A familiar voice called.
"And you're always my best customer Rocky." The owner chuckled.
"Long time, no see!" Tanya greeted and the rest of the older rangers plus Sere and Angela. Tommy, Aisha, Billy, Katherine, Rocky, Tanya, Adam, Trini, Zach, and Jason were all there.
"Hey Ernie, if we're going to walk down memory lane there's something you're going to need to be let in on." Adam said seriously, followed by nods of agreement and small giggles from everyone else.
Tommy leaned on the counter and motioned for the elder man to come closer. Cupping a hand by his ear Tommy began to whisper,
"You know how we were always leaving suddenly?"
Ernie nodded curiously.
"Well... we were all Power Rangers. Oh, minus Angie and Sere." Tommy pulled back as he and everyone else grinned guiltily.
"How- I mean... whoa." Ernie shook his head then smiled. "How could I not have seen it? The colors, the closeness, the disappearing? You guys are nuts." He laughed and shook his head at how much they many times they must have risked their lives.
"Yeah but we saved everyone's butts a bunch of times." Kat replied casually in her classic accent. It was actually nice to know that time hadn't changed her that much. They all laughed and began to talk about their adventures, letting Ernie in on what REALLY happened. Andros loved every minute of getting closer into their closely knit family of friends. He couldn't believe how he had gone from the Earth shy, serious alien to such a home planet, easy going guy. It had taken him a while to fully trust his ranger team but since then he'd changed, and he trusted everyone here almost immediately.
Martial arts mats were set out like they used to be and everyone, including Ernie, were sitting in a large circle just talking and laughing.. and drinking good, old-fashion smoothies of course. Funny how they all seemed to be coupled off.
Tommy and Aisha, naturally, sat close with her leaning against his arm. An adorable pair of newly weds.
Billy sat next to Kat, holding each others' hand. She occasionally rested her head on his arm, which he didn't mind in the least.
Zach had his arm around Angela's waist through-out the conversations. They'd been married two years ago on a lovely Autumn day.
Sere was sitting in front of Adam with her head in his lap. He unconciously played with her long black hair that spread across his legs.
Rocky and Tanya were as outgoing as ever in the 'walk down memory lane' even as Rocky drapped his arm around her shoulders near the beginning and there it remained for most of the time.
Trini sat comfortably in Jason's lap, leaning against one of his shoulders so that his face could be seen as well. He held her securely around the waist. They had been engaged for a few months now.
And then there was Kimberly and Andros. Not officially a couple, in fact they were almost new acquaintances, but there seemed to be an intangible connection between the two. It was like they were so close, it was hard NOT to see them as a couple once they'd actually met. She sat there, her smile sparkling as she held his hand and he looked happier than, those who had seen him, had seen him in a while.
They all talked merrily into the evening. Thankfully Ernie had opened the place to them a day early since they were always special in his heart, he even took to Angela, Sere, and Andros as part of the close group right away. The evening started to die down as it got later. Time had flown by for everyone.
Finally Rocky let out a large yawn sparking more banter that had been happening that night.
"Looks like it's someone's bed time." Billy mocked, receiving a tongue stuck out at him in return.
"I think those two beat you to it." Zach gestured to where Kim and Sere were sleeping soundly next to each other on the mats. Everyone's voices automatically dropped to whispers.
"We should get going anyway." Jason added softly as he helped his wife up. "We're flying out to meet a client in Miami tomorrow."
"It's ok, Tommy seems pretty beat anyway and we can't have that on our honey-moon in Antigua." Aisha winked playfully causing Tommy to blush.
"I guess I should get Sere home and to bed too. My girl needs her rest for work and so do I." Adam smiled at the petite form of his girlfriend.
"I'll take Kimberly home." Andros stated more than offered. He was sure she wouldn't object anyway. A few knowing looks went around the group that did not go unnoticed by the former red space ranger.
"Aw, that's sweet." Angela said in a genuine tone.
"I knew you would. You're such a gentleman, don't think I didn't see you two at the reception." Kat teased playfully.
"I've got a late night radio show to do in two hours anyway." Tanya added as they all began to gather their things.
"But count on us stopping by, Ernie...A LOT!" Trini giggled. Rocky smiled and nudged her.
"Yeah because we don't care if it's a _Youth_ Center."
"Thanks for letting us in bro, since we couldn't make it for your official grand opening tomorrow." Tommy shook hands with the elderly owner.
"Anytime guys, you know this place is always open to you." He smiled back and waved as they all left. Adam and Andros carefully carrying the two beautiful, sleeping women.
As soon as they were all gone Ernie prepared to lock up for the night. He was just about to leave when he looked back at it, smiled, and shook his head at the memories.
"The Power Rangers."
He flicked the light switch and everything was sucked into darkness.
~*~ A little later ~*~
Andros set her tiny form on a massive bed as gently as possible. He smirked as she curled confortably into the fluffy pillows. Though he wanted to fall asleep next to her right now, to be sure of her safety and to feel safe himself... he knew it wouldn't be right. He wasn't going to do anything of course, but they were new to each other even if they were strangely close.
He pulled the blanket over Kim and tucked her in. Giving her a kiss on the forehead, Andros walked out of the room turning the light off with his mind leaving behind only a note on her nightstand.
He gathered his few things and got in his car. Andros had decided to stay the night at his place out of courtesy, after all he hadn't been invited to stay another night even though part of him knew it would be ok.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And that my friends, is the end of that chapter. Like it? I hope so. Three C's welcome and appreciated. I'll be waiting to hear from you guys.
By the way, I think I need a Beta reader... anyone interested? I go a bit slow as you can tell so you definatly won't be bombarded with a lot of work at once lol. Email me if you're interested. *hugs ya all* :)